Cooking From Scratch

FAVORITE RECIPES

CHICKEN DIVAN

-4 whole chicken breasts* (We use 1 whole chicken, cooked and deboned)

-1 large package frozen broccoli, cooked and drained

-1 can cream of chicken soup (I use gluten free and non-GMO)

½ cup mayo

⅓ c. evaporated milk ( may sub. raw milk)

½ cup packed grated cheddar cheese

1 tsp. Lemon juice

½ tsp curry powder

1 c. bread crumbs, Italian (may also use leftover sandwich bread crushed up

Parmesan cheese

Skin and bone boiled chicken and leave in pieces as much as possible. Place broccoli in a 13x9 casserole dish, top with chicken. 

Heat soup on low, stir in other ingredients until cheese melts. Pour over chicken. Top with crumbs and parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. May freeze. Serves 6-8

*Time saving tip: buy rotisserie chicken instead.

Money saving tip: Plan an early trip to the grocery store and find rotisserie chickens marked down. I'll buy a couple plump looking ones and store in freezer till needed

BANANA BREAD

½ cup butter

1 ½ cup sugar

2 eggs beaten

¼ cup buttermilk

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups sifted flour

1 cup mashed and heaped bananas

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

Nuts and brown sugar to sprinkle on the top (optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add dry ingredients alternating with milk and bananas. Sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar. Bake in greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 

POT ROAST

1 Beef chuck roast approx 4 lbs

1 can cream of mushroom soup (Kroger has a Pacific brand that is gluten and GMO free)

1 packet of dry onion soup mix. 

Mix the soup and dry mix together. Put roast in crock pot and add the soup mixture. Before church, turn on high and have it ready for lunch. If you are preparing for evening meal, turn on low. 

Variation to add to the meat/soup mixture

1-2 cups water

baby carrots 

cut up onion

new potatoes

MISSISSIPPI MUD ROAST

3-4 lb Beef Chuck Roast

½ cup butter ( I use cultured butter from our raw milk!)

1 packet of dry ranch seasoning mix ( You can also get from Azure their Dry ranch seasoning in bulk, its non-GMO, I keep mine in a jar in my spice cabinet

12-16 oz jar pepperoncini peppers liquid and all. 

Add all ingredients to the crockpot, or instapot. Cook on low for 6-8 hrs. Serve with rice and may top with avocado, tomato, cilantro and onion for a Latino twist! This is a little spicy for kids, maybe try half the jar of peppers the first time you make it if you have little ones. 

PANTRY STAPLES LIST:

What to have on hand and in your pantry depends on your family’s favorite foods, so you can tweak according to your needs.

• Spices: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, oregano,chili powder, curry, taco seasoning—add others according to your tastes and dishes you like

• Sugars- granulated, confectioners, brown (you can get non-GMO organic or unrefined versions from Azure standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=9aedbebfcc 

• Flour (gluten free if needed)

• Baking soda, baking powder

• Yeast

• Steel cut oats (these are supposed to be gluten free!), grains (ie quinoa)

• Bread Crumbs/Panko

• *Chicken broth

• Oil--i.e. olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil

• Worcestershire, soy sauce or coco-aminos alternative, vinegar (i.e. apple cider, balsamic), ketchup, mustard. 

• Tortilla shells/burritos. There is a great grain free brand I like in the freezer section at Kroger called “siete”

• Dried pasta-spaghetti, noodles to make dishes (gluten free?)

• Rice–preferred wild or brown

• Peanut butter, Mayonnaise (Emily uses almond butter when possible)

• Tuna fish, sardines (if you like—packed with good protein)--look for wild caught brands.

• *Beans-dried and canned (kidney, pinto chick peas). Provide fiber, protein and healthy carbs. The easiest way to cook dried beans is in the instapot!

• *Tomatoes-diced, sauce

• Potatoes (sweet and red skinned), root vegetables, onions

• Nuts for another source of protein, lookup why & how to soak and dehydrate your store bought nuts: Why Soak Nuts? - Nature's Eats (natureseats.com)

• Loaf bread **, hamburger, hot dog buns–when you get ready you can learn how to make your own—podcast episode coming on that!

• Refrigerated: Lemons, eggs, butter, milk, greens for salad, carrots, etc.

*Look for low sodium varieties if present so you can season as desired

**If you want to go down the freshly milled flour path (FMF), follow Sue Beckers podcast called “Sues Healthy Minutes”. Sue is a small business owner near the Atlanta area, her family business sells grains, mills, and she hosts classes on breadmaking etc, she is a WEALTH of info!

For Organic, non-GMO staple alternatives, search Azure standard’s website. Azure is a once monthly grocery/supply drop with multiple drop locations in the U.S. Here is the link if you have not created an account yet: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=9aedbebfcc (I do get a referral credit if you make a qualifying purchase).